Crown Prosecution Service announces charges of manslaughter after death of Simon Dobbin
The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute 12 men in connection with the death of Simon Dobbin, who died in October 2020 following a violent incident outside the Railway Tavern in Southend-on-Sea in March 2015.
Rebecca Mundy, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said:
“We can confirm today that we have taken the decision to prosecute 12 men with manslaughter following the death of Simon Dobbin.
“Prosecutors in our Complex Casework Unit have worked closely with Essex Police to examine and review the material obtained from their investigations from both the incident itself and following the death of Mr Dobbin.
“We have established that there is sufficient evidence to charge 12 people with the offence of manslaughter and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that proceedings against the defendants are now active and that they have a right to a fair trial.
“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”
The 12 men charged with manslaughter, contrary to common law, are:
- Greg Allen, (DOB: 03/04/88), of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
- Ryan Carter, (DOB: 21/10/85), of HMP The Mount.
- Jamie Chambers, (DOB: 23/11/92), of Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
- Lewis Courtnell, (DOB:18/01/83), of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
- Philip McGill, (DOB: 26/02/85), of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
- Scott Nicholls, (DOB: 03/07/76), of Basildon, Essex.
- Matthew Petchey, (DOB: 07/02/91), of Rochford, Essex.
- Rhys Pullen, (DOB: 13/05/96), of Maldon, Essex.
- Thomas Randall, (DOB: 08/10/94), of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
- Michael Shawyer, (DOB: 10/08/85), of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
- Alexander Woods, (DOB: 08/03/92), of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
- James Woods, (DOB: 08/03/92), of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
Notes to editors
- The 12 defendants are due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on 31 March 2026.
- Rebecca Mundy is a Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor who has responsibility for the Complex Casework Unit for the Crown Prosecution Service East of England Area.
- As in cases of this type, consent to prosecute has been sought and provided by the Law Officers in accordance with legal guidance.
- The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider.
- The CPS assessment of any case is not in any sense a finding of, or implication of, any guilt or criminal conduct. It is not a finding of fact, which can only be made by a court, but rather an assessment of what it might be possible to prove to a court, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.